Are Your Concrete Sidewalks Heaving or Sinking?

Your commercial property is an important investment that
requires routing maintenance and repair; and when it comes to the exterior of
your premises, the quality and performance of your concrete pavements plays an
important role in both property aesthetics and safety. One of the most hazardous
concrete pavement issues that should be addressed right away is heaving or
sinking.

If you notice large dips or heaves in your sidewalks, walkways,
or parking lots, it is wise to have them repaired before they can become a costly
lawsuit or jeopardize customer traffic. After all, the average cost of concrete
repair lingers around $2,500, while the average slip and fall lawsuit hovers
steady above $40,000, not including personal legal fees and insurance premiums.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about
concrete sidewalk damage and repair, including who to trust for local commercial
paving services at an affordable price.

Commercial Paving 317-549-1833

Causes of Concrete Sinking and Heaving

Although concrete sidewalk depressions and humps are common
types of damages, they are not something that should be ignored over a long
period of time. Most often, spring and summer are when these damages are most
noticeable, or appear for the first time. They result from the freeze-thaw
cycles through the winter, as well as, soil compaction issues and excessive
precipitation.

Sidewalk Sinking

Side walking sinking and dipping can be a result of several
circumstances. Most often, it is a result of soil erosion brought on by too
much rain water or precipitation over the winter season. Other times, concrete
sinks due to temperature changes that cause soil to lose compaction. Basically,
the weight of the pavement becomes too heavy for the ground below, and begins
to sink into it overtime.

Sidewalk Heaving

Sidewalk heaves and humps are mostly caused by the expansion
of clay-based soils beneath the concrete, which occurs from moisture
accumulation. Rainwater is the most common source of moisture absorption in the
ground soil, but things like burst pipes, sewer drainage, and water runoff can
also cause excess moisture buildup beneath concrete. In contrast, heaving can
also be caused by soil that is too dry.